Remote, flexible working from Greece
We’ve got something a little different for you this month. Our project architect, Christianna Anagnostopoulou is spending some time working from her native Greece this summer, so we thought it would be a good time for her to wax lyrical about the pros of working from home.
It goes without saying that in a post-COVID world, the working-from-home dynamic is a much more widely accepted model for working. In this short blog, Christianna gives a personal case study on how remote working has empowered her to do some of her best work yet.
The big balancing act
I love being an architect. I’m drawn to the creativity and the science of it and it’s a privilege to work in the industry. But life gets busy and when you’re a busy mum with lots of responsibilities alongside your day job, it’s easier for that cup of stress to run over and leave you flailing. That’s why I’m extremely grateful to be able to enjoy all the benefits of remote flexible working.
Remote flexible working
If you’re a conscientious, self-motivating person, home working is a total game changer. You can choose to work from home in your pyjamas, your nearest pub (with a lime and soda!) or, why not, another country.
For me it is Greece. I put on my swimsuit and go for a quick morning swim with my kids and then the grandparents take over the childcare. I grab my laptop and my notes, my headphones and I am ready to work sitting under a tree with the Mediterranean breeze whispering through my workspace. Add to that a Freddo cappuccino and I’m right there in the zone, ready to deliver some of my best work.
I can’t talk about the benefits of flexible remote working enough, but I’ll have a go.
Remote working and productivity
Working remotely, even from the UK, especially as a parent, makes my daily life so much easier. Mornings are hectic enough, having to prepare my twin boys for school. Not having the additional stress of getting ready for the office, like choosing my outfit or preparing my lunch drives stress levels down and makes my life much easier to manage.
In addition, using the commute time, or the lack of it, as a bonus time during the day to do the house chores before I start work, make dinner or for those extra finishing touches on a project can’t be overvalued. Flexibility in working hours gives the opportunity to take a walk when the sun is out or fit in a doctor's appointment without having to take the whole day off. Ultimately, it gives you freedom, reduces needless stress and empowers you to do what you do best at home and work.
If we look at the research on wellbeing and work, the answers are clear across the board. Less stressed, happier people do better work, are more creative and stay in their jobs longer. People who are chronically stressed don’t.
Remote working from abroad – Making time for the important things in life
Let’s move the scene over to my current setting, beautiful Greece. As a mum, remote working enables me to give my kids the opportunity to have exposure to my mother tongue and create strong connections with their grandparents and extended family. They can also develop and nurture friendships in Greece, something that’s very important to me and them. Spending quality time with family and friends has numerous benefits for our family’s overall well-being.
The benefits are there for me too. The opportunity to relax and unwind with my loved ones reduces my stress levels and helps reduce any feelings of anxiety. This promotes a more positive mindset and contributes to increased focus and productivity at work. Taking breaks, having a quick swim in the sea and engaging in enjoyable activities stimulates creativity. Exposure to different perspectives and experiences during quality time can inspire fresh ideas and innovative thinking – valuable commodities as an architect.
By comparison, a daily commute, with hours sat in traffic or crammed onto a busy train like a sardine denies you all of these positive experiences. What’s more, you’re swapping positive experiences for inherently stressful ones.
More family time = more connection with the thing that makes it all worthwhile
A supportive network of family and friends can boost motivation and that feeling of connection. Love provides a sense of purpose and encouragement, which can positively impact work performance. I love my job and feel privileged to be able to do it, but one of the main reasons we go to work every day is for us to be able to live a good life with our family so being able to enjoy that benefit as much as possible keeps us connected to the reason we do it every day.
The bottom line
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance prevents burnout and exhaustion and having a fulfilling personal life can contribute to overall job satisfaction. Change of scenery, climate, smells, and light enables a different perspective and enhances creativity. What’s good for me is good for my employer.
From a personal perspective, I don’t want to miss out on the health benefits of exposure to the Mediterranean climate, the sunlight, good quality food, and daily physical exercise (swimming in the sea). You can’t put a price on the improved health outcomes I get from my time in Greece.
Ultimately, genuine flexibility for remote work and hours is key to good mental health and increased creativity and productivity.